On our own development we have in North Wales, where we have several acres, we are about to plant 600 Hornbeam of various sizes, a very large ‘specimine’ Corcasian Fir and almost 250 box hedging plants in our ’1st Phase’ of planting, with more to come next year. We will of course be updating our website and Facebook pages in the near future so that you can see all this first hand.

I consider the right planting and landscaping to be as important (if not more) than the interior design of any development. Interiors are often changed by the new owners but much less so with the landscaping in our experience. The cost, which can often be considerable, is always worth it, even if the project is a development as if often the case with our own work. As with all aspects in a development, if you are wanting to achieve ‘top money’ for your development, then every aspect must be in place. From the Location of course, to the look, design and quality of the work to the fixture’s and fittings and garden/landscaping.

As you all will know, Llama does not do ‘normal’ building projects. We specialise in unique, one off projects, which of course warrant our expertise. Therefore to give a figure as to what it will cost to do x,y & z before I have any plans even drawn up is very difficult, as due to the uniqueness of our work, no two projects are ever the same. This is then compounded when a potential client comes to me before they have even bought a property, and what figure I may give them will then form the basis as to whether they purchase this property/barn etc. No pressure then as its the single biggest investment they will probably make!

As a consummate professional, I deal in certainties as much as is possible. Which is why I always use an Independent Quantity Surveyor (QS) to accurately price all of work. Now we can use a QS during the design and planning stage if necessary so that we are not designing a scheme that a client cannot afford, or we can wait until the design is finalised and either look at doing the build in stages or cutting back on the fixtures and fittings (or waiting until further funding is available).

The biggest trouble with giving ‘ball park’ figures even is not only is the project unique as I have mentioned above, but also-

• I do not know any planning history which may prove to be vital depending on the clients aspirations for the property.
• I do not know any ‘hidden’ issues at this stage which may cause the project costs to rise.
• I have no plans to work from.
• I do not know what specification is expected.
• Every client as well as project are different, and again until you get to know them and understand exactly what they are wanting it can effect the build costs considerably.
• Its a no win situation, as if I guess too low, then it is this figure the client remembers (as if it is set in stone!) and I am to blame if my QS prices it higher; and if its too high then more often than not the client will then go with another Architect/Project Manager/Builder only to pay for it further down the line of course.

So where do we go form here? The hardest situation is when a client wants my opinion before they commit to buying a property/barn, I am happy to give a “it may cost between x & y” costing, but there is obviously no way I can be accurate at this stage, likewise for a development that they may already own. What is often the case is that a client will have to pay ‘some’ money to have some preliminary work done so that both the client and myself have a much clearer idea as to what is required and expected. And as is more often the case, this is money they would of had to have spent in any case, so as we like at Llama, no money wasted doing anything twice! So please understand we do not build ‘estate’ houses or ‘off the shelf’ builds, so a ‘ball park’ initial figure is exactly that.

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To be accepted into these highly regarded organisations is a huge honour and testament to the high specification work that Llama Developments has produced over the last 14 years.

The reasoning behind this is to give our new clients an increased feeling that we are an independently accredited and vetted company, and as such only operate to the highest standards. The Federation of Master Builders has been operating for over 70yrs and is the largest trade association for the UK Construction Industry. As well as our clients being able to see and speak to our previous and existing clients, they will also have complete peace of mind knowing that we also have conformed to the high standards required for The Federation of Master Builders.

We are increasingly being asked if we will undertake projects in Europe from some of our existing UK clients who have property abroad or are thinking of buying property abroad, hence the reasoning in also joining The European Builders Confederation. So keep posted for our first European project starting later this year!

Project book is a fantastic organisation that is designed purely with conservation of pre 1920′s buildings in mind. To register you have to be carefully vetted like the other organisations above and have specialist experience in dealing with older properties. Which of course forms a large part of our work.

There is a fine line between expanding and continually growing your business, whilst maintaining your standards and keeping full control over all the projects we are doing. Obviously with this number of enquires, how do we decide which projects we are going to take on, and which we are not? Well it depends on a number of factors.

1. If you know of us and read how we work, you will know that we operate an ‘Open Book’ approach to any project. It is carefully and accurately priced out from the beginning and agreed with myself and the client. I have a running spreadsheet for every project that the client sees every week (or daily if they require it) so that they can see exactly where we are, and also any already agreed additions there might be. It is an honest and open way of working that I have perfected over the years. It means both the client and myself know exactly where we are at all times, this is of course how we run our own developments. As such, we do not enter into Tenders. When any potential client, or other Architect contacts me and asks if I would like to tender for a given project, we always politely turn it down. As I have mentioned above, we only work one way, and to one standard, and our costings are independently calculated by a certified Quantity Surveyor. So either this open and honest price is acceptable or it is not, we do not bid for projects.
2. The project has to be something that is interesting, it does not have to be worth hundreds and hundreds of thousands necessarily, but obviously we do not undertake your ‘normal’ house extension. We are not general builders.
3. Most importantly, I need to connect and ‘get on’ with any potential new client. Recently I was contacted by a potential client for whom some of my workforce had worked for in the past, so I thought it only right to go and meet the gentleman and advise how best he should proceed with his latest ideas as to how he wanted to further extend his property. What he was asking for would be very difficult to even get permission for in the first instance, and in my mind detract from what is currently an attractive house. As you know, I have a complete team, from Architects, Planning Consultants, Project Managers to all trades even through to Landscape Designers, Colour Experts, Lighting Designers and even Artists for commissioning bespoke artwork. Having been a developer myself for over 14years, I like to think  I have a pretty good idea of what I am talking about. However,  after giving this particular man my advice on how best to proceed, he decided not to take it and to, “deal with the planning issues himself as he has extended a house or two over the years and knew what he’s doing”. Now as you can tell, this is a relationship that is doomed from the start. I have completed too many projects for clients over the years to  know when its best to say “thank you very much for your enquiry, but I think that it is best that I bow out at this stage”. There is a structure to how all projects run at their most efficient, and I know the easiest and most cost effective ways to do this within domestic construction. Ways in which  projects not only run smoothly and easily from the start, but also in an open and cost efficient way. No one I have met in my industry, works to my standard or level. You cannot have more than one person running a project, because as the saying goes, it will spoil the broth.

We cannot help everyone, and some clients want to run their own projects their own way, which of course is their right, besides where would the entertainment for Grand Designs come from without this attitude?  But these clients will never become Llama clients for that very reason.

Here are a few images on some of the projects we are working on to demonstate the capabilities.

Images by Apadana, Knutsford

Images by Chapter Seven Design

Good communication with your clients is obviously essential. There has to be a ‘bond’ between myself, who is ultimately controlling the whole project, and the client. Now the better that bond, the easier and dare I say it even, better the project will be. Why? Well, passion and enthusiasm are important elements to a successful project. I should state that a successful project for Llama Developments is not the same as anyone else’s definition of a successful project! To help design a truly stunning property, both visually and practically (9/10 times this is overlooked, and a key factor in why are designs are so successful), is to know your clients well, long before we even commence building this great design. To deliver a property that is both on time and on budget, with no extras other than specified and previously agreed by the client during construction, and also be better than even I could ever have imagined let alone our clients, requires a complex skill set. As Project Manager, I must be good at communication. If you are looking at employing a PM, if you do not instantly ‘get on’ then my advice would be to walk away. Because that is what we also do, if we think we cannot work with a potential new client. I must have be able to not only communicate with my team perfectly, so that we understand each other fully, but also be able to fully grasp what our clients wants and needs are. In fact in many cases, second guessing them so that it saves them time and money as I can guess what possible works they may want doing before they do. This way it saves us doing things twice and having to charge our clients extra. Which as you know is what we try to do from the outset.

So, the better the client and myself communicate, the easier the project will go, the more money will be saved and because of the details listed above, arguably the better the result will be too! I’d say that was pretty important.

1. To give our clients options and choices that they often had not even considered.
2. To help us plan out the project, so that it runs as smoothly as possible.
3. To try to ascertain what the complete project is likely to cost our clients, one of the ways we eliminate those all to often extra’s or unnecessary use of any contingency fund.
4. To maximise productivity.
5. To ensure key Design Details are considered and implemented at time of build, which of course is the most cost effective time to do this.
6. To maintain these principles throughout the whole build, so that Quality Levels and Detail are never compromised.
7. All of our own and our clients projects are beautiful houses/barns in their own right, (unless we start from scratch that is) but the detail in which we alter/extend or convert and the level of our craftsmanship, is unrivaled. This is what people notice when we have finished, and what also gives ours and our clients projects the premium on its value should they ever decide to sell.

What you will appreciate after reading this, is that this cannot all take place in a matter of days. We are often approached by potential clients who want some building work completed, and all done in a matter of weeks. To maintain our standard of work and ensure that every project of ours meets our uncompromising standards, takes time, even if we are talking about relatively minor works. Let alone the fact, that contrary to popular belief we do not have a team of Tradesmen and Project Managers on standby, on a ’30 minutes to deploy’ waiting for these clients to call. Now this was common place for me in my previous Military career, but not very practical today, as an owner of a Project Management Company.

As all new homes in North Wales and soon in the rest of the UK will have an Energy Performance Rating Report, so that the owner and any future owners will know what technologies and even what level of insulation have been used during the construction. It has already been proven that ‘greener’ homes add value to your property, and with these new reports coming into effect, this will only increase. Most builders and developers are very anti these reports, as they see it as added work and expense, but not Llama Developments. The reason for this is that we are always going ‘above and beyond’ with regard to insulation values, be it underfloor, cavity, roof and even glazing. Let alone all the Renewable Technology we are experienced in using, which only push our Performance Rating to the highest possible level.

We only install the best Renewable Technology, so that it not only works as efficiently as possible, but also is guaranteed for at least 10years. All of our current projects (worth over £2m) for 2011/2012 are installing the highest possible levels of Renewable Technology. Our own development in North Wales will be a showcase for all of these technologies, so that any future client can come and see not only what we are capable of building, but also experience first hand all the latest Renewable Technology in action. All of the technology we use will pay for itself in well under 10 years. This coupled with the fact that your property will also be worth more with this integrated technology, let alone the ideology that we should surely be putting something back to this planet instead of constantly taking, makes it a complete ‘no brainer’ as far as we are concerned.

To find out more of what we do and are capable of doing then please get in touch, we’d love to discuss what is possible for your home.

In The Cotswolds, we happily went from project to project, being it our own projects or for clients. We had no web site or had ever advertised. In deciding to move permanently to the North West, although we had a house in North Wales for many years, we of course needed to promote our services as no one of course knew who we were and what we offered.

The first thing we did was to create our website to show a selection of some of our work, employ a PR company Boomerang PR, to help us with advertising, web development and SEO. Then I made contact with a new Architect and Planning Consultant that I would use for all of my North West Developments. We started working together on our own property, which is due to start some time next year, and is a large 4000 sq ft stone re build and a large garage/workshop with accommodation above, which will be a lovey stone and oak frame building.

Slowly over time we started to develop a network of contacts and after a few months clients started coming knocking on our door. You can easily think, especially as you do not work with other builders/developers, that the way you design, plan and build a project is how everyone must do it. Even though a lot of the sub contractors you bring in always say how much they like working for me; how easy I make it for them; you’ve always got everything sorted and organised for us; nothing is ever an issue for you; you always pay us on time; its always a great working environment on your sites; you always build such great houses etc, etc. Being the ‘humble sort’ I never have read to much into it!

Of course coming to a new area and setting up again, you soon realise that the exact same thing is happening here, how I am and how I operate is different to how other people work. The services we are able to offer and the standard in which we work is unlike anyone else, either in The Cotswolds, Cheshire, North Wales or anywhere else in the UK for that matter. All of our new clients in the North West have been amazed but not only what we can offer, but also our enthusiasm, knowledge, professionalism and experience.

We were recently contacted by a very wealthy gentleman who has bought a plot to rebuild a 5000 sq ft house in Prestbury, Cheshire. The client wants a very high spec house and as such has gone to Nicolas Tye Architects, a very successful and well respected firm. Nicolas Tye do a lot of work for a top Cheshire developer called Huntsmere, who are currently building many lovely high spec houses in and around Cheshire. One of which they are selling as ‘cutting edge in terms of of green and re newable energy products’. What they are talking about is Ground Source Heating, PV systems, Air Source Heating, Underfloor Heating, and possibly Heat Recovery Systems. This particular client came to Llama Developments because he saw that we also have experience in these technologies (and many more!). When I told him that this is nothing new, and in fact we have been installing these products in The Cotswolds for 7 years or more he couldn’t believe it. For some reason these latest, and in my mind vital, forms of technology should be used in most modern homes, but especially the ‘high spec’ projects that we get involved in. But in the North West, only the top developers use them, and even then they have little experience as they have only just started adopting these technologies.

So if you are thinking of having a bespoke building project done, and especially if you are thinking of using the latest and best Renewable Energy Technology then employ a professional who is experienced in these technologies, and one that is capable of managing a complex build that only gets more complicated, the more technology needs to be integrated into a ultra efficient, ultra slick development.